No Can Do
December 5th 2006 10:48
The developed world is probably full of people who want to be fit and look good etc. Very few are in that condition. The reason is simple: They have not made a commitment to it. But making a commitment is not as easy as saying,"I am going to get into shape." A commitment can only be be judged by actions. The fact is that a commitment to fitness is much like committing to be a success in anything. It involves a you and your real priorities.
Twenty years ago I found a little book on the shelves of a bookstore with the humble title The Ultimate Guide to Getting Absolutely Everything You Want by Mike Hernacki. Despite the title's hyperbole the tiny tome turned out to be a gem. Hernacki lays out an idea in a few pages that has redounded in my mind all of these subsequent years. Its advice is as good for getting into shape as it is for anything else at which you might wish to succeed.
Hernacki offers a simple proposition: Decide what it is that you really want and write it on a large sheet of paper. Take two more sheets of paper. At the top of the first write "Things I will do to achieve my goal."At the top of the other write," Things I will not do to achieve my goal."
Brainstorm on both lists until you think you have covered just about everything you will and will not do to get what you want. When you are certain you have covered as much as you can be expected to anticipate, do the following:Tear up the things you will do sheet. It is ultimately the things you won't do that keep you from succeeding.
I once heard a young man interviewed on the radio who reminded me of the very point Hernacki is making. He had quite astutely set a goal for himself of making a certain sum per year in his profession and had apparently sacrificed quite a bit to achieve it. Now he was being offered even more money than he had envisioned, if he would move to a city far from his family. Of course, the young man was bulking. He was not going to take the promotion, because he would not leave his familiar and comfortable surroundings;but he still wanted the money.
I think Hernacki would agree when I say that we all,like the young man, are beings with many wants, some of which conflict with each other in one way or another. Because of this everyone carries around an implicit set of priorities. By implicit I mean that these priorities will not make themselves known until we are required to choose between two. It is easy to balance wants that don't conflict, but, when they do, we have to prioritize or,should I say, face priorities that already exist. The young man had a real priority of staying near his lifelong home which remained unspoken until his money goal ran into conflict with it.
Make a commitment to get into shape or better shape or have big muscles or a small waist-whatever. Make a list of what you will do, if you want. "I will train five days a week." "I will get a trainer." "I will train on the weekend." You really don't need a "won't do list." Wait until your commitment to fitness runs up against some other desire. Then you will see what you really value. If,for instance, you have to spend longer hours at work or some weekend opportunity comes along, will you train at 5:30 in the morning or give up the opportunity for a weekend of fun? .(I won't even mention the first time you are invited to a party with lots of sugary food.)
At that point you'll know how much fitness means to you. Maybe he who cares the most gets the most? Your servant as always.
Twenty years ago I found a little book on the shelves of a bookstore with the humble title The Ultimate Guide to Getting Absolutely Everything You Want by Mike Hernacki. Despite the title's hyperbole the tiny tome turned out to be a gem. Hernacki lays out an idea in a few pages that has redounded in my mind all of these subsequent years. Its advice is as good for getting into shape as it is for anything else at which you might wish to succeed.
Hernacki offers a simple proposition: Decide what it is that you really want and write it on a large sheet of paper. Take two more sheets of paper. At the top of the first write "Things I will do to achieve my goal."At the top of the other write," Things I will not do to achieve my goal."
Brainstorm on both lists until you think you have covered just about everything you will and will not do to get what you want. When you are certain you have covered as much as you can be expected to anticipate, do the following:Tear up the things you will do sheet. It is ultimately the things you won't do that keep you from succeeding.
I once heard a young man interviewed on the radio who reminded me of the very point Hernacki is making. He had quite astutely set a goal for himself of making a certain sum per year in his profession and had apparently sacrificed quite a bit to achieve it. Now he was being offered even more money than he had envisioned, if he would move to a city far from his family. Of course, the young man was bulking. He was not going to take the promotion, because he would not leave his familiar and comfortable surroundings;but he still wanted the money.
I think Hernacki would agree when I say that we all,like the young man, are beings with many wants, some of which conflict with each other in one way or another. Because of this everyone carries around an implicit set of priorities. By implicit I mean that these priorities will not make themselves known until we are required to choose between two. It is easy to balance wants that don't conflict, but, when they do, we have to prioritize or,should I say, face priorities that already exist. The young man had a real priority of staying near his lifelong home which remained unspoken until his money goal ran into conflict with it.
Make a commitment to get into shape or better shape or have big muscles or a small waist-whatever. Make a list of what you will do, if you want. "I will train five days a week." "I will get a trainer." "I will train on the weekend." You really don't need a "won't do list." Wait until your commitment to fitness runs up against some other desire. Then you will see what you really value. If,for instance, you have to spend longer hours at work or some weekend opportunity comes along, will you train at 5:30 in the morning or give up the opportunity for a weekend of fun? .(I won't even mention the first time you are invited to a party with lots of sugary food.)
At that point you'll know how much fitness means to you. Maybe he who cares the most gets the most? Your servant as always.
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